CREASIE TILLMAN

Columbia Memorial Center

Creasie Tillman was born July 12, 1922, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Godfrey Chambers and Pearlie Lee Gill. She was the second of four children. She spent her early years in Little Rock and Saginaw, Michigan.

Creasie married A.J. Tillman on October 23, 1942. After A.J. was honorably discharged from the Army in 1944, the two moved out west to Seattle to be closer to her sister and brother-in-law, Virgie and Richard Robinson, and then eventually moved to Pasco, WA. In 1957, Creasie and A.J. moved to San Francisco and then to East Palo Alto, CA, where they raised their family. Creasie was a food service worker for Stanford Hospital, but was forced to retire after undergoing brain surgery that left her disabled.

During her time of traveling between Pasco and Seattle, Creasie was involved with a group called The Silhouettes, which put on dances and soul food dinners to raise money for numerous charitable organizations in the community. She was always helping those around her by giving her time or money to make sure others did not go without. She loved Pasco, which is why it was easy to move back in 1979 when A.J. retired from San Mateo County.

Creasie continued her legacy in Pasco as a longtime member of St. James CME by receiving the 1994 Juneteenth Humanitarian Award for community Service and was also a member of the senior group, The Sunshine Band. She leaves a legacy of love, caring and sharing.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, A.J. Tillman; her two children, Kevin and Pearl; her three siblings, Alberta Cole, Godfrey Chambers (Billy) and Virgie Robinson; and her daughter-in-law, Janice Tillman. She leaves a son, Andrew Tillman; six grandchildren, Ameer, Moniesa, Na'imah, Janisha, Vernon, Joseph; as well as a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may also be made to the Janice Tillman Memorial Scholarship, 1 Daffodil Ct., Pasco, WA, or the Virgie Robinson Memorial Scholarship Pasco Education Fund, PO Box 704, Pasco, WA 99301.

May 17, 2010, will be a family viewing at Columbia Memorial Chapel, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m., and a Public Viewing at Columbia Memorial Chapel, 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. May 18, 2010. Funeral services will be at St. James CME Church at 1809 George St., Pasco, WA, at 1:00 p.m.